Stressing that the New Orleans Hornets are in sound financial condition, team president Hugh Weber says the team might consider tapping into the $175 million the NBA has made available to its member clubs.

The loan, which would total about $11.6 million, has been arranged by the NBA through several financial institutions, including JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America in which non-banking lenders are extending the cash at a fixed rate of 8.27 percent for the first $100 million and 7.45 for the rest of the loan, $75 million.

"We're one of a lot of teams who are looking at that as an option," Weber said. "It's more looking at it as a rainy day fund. It's not needed right now. But one of the things that's been phenomenal about this market, whether it's basketball or the auto business or whatever, is banks are just not loaning money.

"It's not needed. It's something we're saying, whether to pay down other debt or whatever, we're not looking to borrow more money. It's a loan. It's a facility (the NBA) is setting up not because teams need it, it's because teams can't go out on their own and do it. Banks have been so incredibly restrictive."

Attendance at Hornets games has never been higher since the team relocated to New Orleans in 2002.

The Hornets drew 17,621 fans Friday night for their game against the Milwaukee Bucks to increase their season total to 503,958 and their average to 16,798, 19th in the league through 30 games. Capacity at New Orleans Arena is running at 97.6 percent. Friday night's game was the team's 13th sellout of the season, the same mark they had all of last year.

It's possible that the State of Louisiana, under terms of the last year's renegotiated lease that set attendance benchmarks, long since attained, that could have allowed the team to opt out of its deal, will not owe the Hornets any inducement money this year.

Weber said fans have often asked this season about the Hornets' financial viability.

"We've had some season ticket functions and they read blogs and things," Weber said. "I can tell you that the team is in better financial shape than it's been in a long time. And that's not saying we were in bad shape. We have a healthy plan, great responsibility as far as our debt management. We've got great ownership. We're not impacted by this incredible fall in the marketplace.

"You look at some of these owners in professional sports who either cut their teeth in banking and have all their assets in banking or Wall Street. That's not George Shinn and Gary Chouest. These guys have fundamental businesses. And that's the good news. The league is very conservative and wants to make sure their teams don't get into these issues. I think it's just a very prudent strategy to have lots of different avenues."

Stojakovic now ranks fifth all time with 1,548 career 3-pointers. Standing fourth on the list is former Hornets player Glen Rice who had 1,559 made 3-pointers in his career.

It's unlikely Stojakovic will surpass the all-time 3-point leader, Reggie Miller, who made 2,560 in his career. Boston's Ray Allen is second all time with 2,244 heading into Friday night's Celtics' home game against the Indiana Pacers. Dale Ellis is third all-time with 1,719.

MO PETE CLOSER: Though he's received medical clearance to play, Coach Byron Scott may wait until the Sunday-Monday road trip to New Jersey and Philadelphia to put reserve shooting guard Morris Peterson back on the floor.

Peterson was once again inactive Friday night, the 15th straight game he has missed because of a sprained left foot.

"I want to see him (today in practice) where we can go a little four-on-four full-court, three-on-three half-court so he has to get up and down the floor," Scott said. "That, to me, is the tell-tale sign if you're ready."